KITTERY – This year’s annual drawing of the Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Moose Permit Lottery will take place at Kittery Trading Post on Thursday, June 12. Festivities will begin at 3 p.m., with the actual drawing of the winning applicants scheduled for 6 p.m. under a large enclosed tent at Kittery Trading Post. Results will be posted on the Department’s website at www.maine.gov/ifw shortly after the drawing.

The first 250 people entering the Moose Lottery Tent will receive a free giveaway, courtesy of Nikon. In addition, Knight Rifles will give away a new KP1 rifle at the completion of the Moose Lottery Drawing. There will even be a giant 35-foot inflatable slide for the kids to ride prior to the start of the drawing. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early.

Inland Fisheries & Wildlife personnel, local biologists and game wardens will be present to meet and interact with the general public. According to state wildlife biologists, Maine’s moose population is estimated at 29,000. Last year, 2,880 moose permits were issued with a 71% success rate for hunters. This year, the Department expects to issue 3,015 permits with no more than 10% of the permits in each wildlife management district issued to nonresidents.

Since 1999, the Department has rotated the lottery throughout the state. This year’s selection of Kittery Trading Post represents the southernmost location in the state the lottery has been held. In 2009, the lottery will be held in Fort Kent, the state’s northernmost region. In the past, the drawing has lasted approximately three hours. Kittery Trading Post will be extending its hours of operation June 12 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Detailed information on the lottery can be found at http://www.state.me.us/ifw/licenses_permits/lotteries/moose/index.htm. For more information on pre-lottery events and activities, visit the Kittery Trading Post events web site at http://www.ktpevents.com.